Transports dissolved substances around body (hormones, nutrients (water, glucose, amino acids), waste products (CO2, urea))
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Haemoglobin
Found in RBC
Carries oxygen
Quaternary structure (4 polypeptide chains)
Each chain has haem group containing iron giving red colour
(in the lungs) oxygen bonds with iron -> oxyhaemoglobin (which is reversable)
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Red Blood Cells
Coloured by pigment in haemoglobin
Made in bone marrow
Life span of 4 months (120 days)
Diameter of 7 micrometers
Biconcave structure = larger surface area = more oxygen transported
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White Blood Cells
Have a nucleus
Larger than RBC, irregular or spherical in shape
Two basic types:
Granulocytes - granular cytoplasm and lobed nucleus
Agranulocyes - smooth looking cytoplasm and nucleus is round or horseshoe
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White Blood Cells
Phagocytes
> Can escape capillaries and enter intersitial fluid
> Collect at site of infection, ingest harmful bacteria and cell debris
Lymphocytes
> Produces antibodies - chemicals that kill pathogens or stick to them for ingestion by phagocytes
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Platelets
Formed in bone marrow, fragments of larger cells
No nucleus
Reactions take place in cytoplasm
Roles:
Blood clotting, producing prostaglandins (regulate the degree of constriction or dilation in vessels)
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What is the function of blood?
Blood has several vital functions:
> Transport - oxygen, food, hormones, nutrients, etc.
> Defence - WBC - pathogens, toxins
> Form of lymph and tissue fluid
> Regulation - pH, temperature (homeostasis)
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Blood Groups
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Blood Donation Compatibility
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Blood Groups
O- is a universal donor. Any blood type can accept O-
AB- can accept any blood type as it has no antibodies
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Pregnancy and Blood Groups
Mothers often have blood group tests to see whether they are Rh positive or negative.
If mother is negative, and baby inherits fathers positive blood the mother may be exposed to babys blood during birth
Mothers blood develops antibodies, in later pregnancys if baby is positive, mothers blood may attack babys blood cells causing anaemia and possibly still birth
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